Telephone switchboard attachment



Oct. 25, 1949. E. E: ROBERTS TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD ATTACHMENT Filed May 17, 1948 LEAF FIG.2 FIG.3

FIGS

. fi'l verclqrvfast/v5 5. Posters, fl xffinggwy Patented Oct. 25 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,486,325

7 TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD ATTACHIHENT Eugene E. Roberts, Washington, D. 0. Application May 17, 1948, Serial No. 27,595 3 Claims. (01. 173- 361) The present invention relates to an attachment for the plug of a telephone switchboard.

One object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for the plug of a telephone switchboard which will permit easier handling of the plug in normal use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an attachment which will serve as a dirt seal for the plug socket in the switchboard panel.

A further object of my invention is to provide an attachment which can be readily installed, yet secure against disengagement.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such an attachment which can be economically and easily manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to the following specification and the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a telephone switchboard having plugs provided with my attachment,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of the switchboard panel showing one of the plugs with the attachment in its rest position,

Fig. 3 is a vertical plane view of a telephone plug showing the attachment in cross-section,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the attachment, and,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section of the attachment.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various views, the reference numeral I indicates generally a standard P. B. X telephone switchboard provided with plugs ll mounted in a horizontal panel I2. The plugs II are used in the conventional manner to connect any two telephone lines terminating in sockets [3. Each of the sockets I3 are provided with a standard signal light I4 and after the connection is made by use of the plug I I a ringing key I is used to ring the called telephone.

In the normal use and operation of a telephone switchboard, the portion I6 of the plug II is used as a gripping element to handle the jack II into connected position and to disconnect the plug II to return it to rest position. Telephone operators are cautioned in being trained for their job never to use the wire to pull the plugs II from connected position, but due to a tendency of damp hands and/or imperfect gripping of the portion IE to intensify the slipping of the hand from the portion IS without removing the plug II from its connected position, most operators,

'0 in Fig. 2, the ring I9 will form despite being cautioned against it, will grip the cord instead of the portion I6 to remove the plugs II from connected position. This, of course, gives rise to the cords being worn out and/or broken long before failure would otherwise occur if the. plug I I were properly used.

In addition to the problem noted above, it can be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings that the only seal between the plug II in its rest position and the panel I2 is a rubber skirt I1 which engages a shoulder I8 at the lower side of board. This structure, of course, prevents dirt from falling past the plug II to the under side of the panel I2 so long as the plug II is in a position of rest but as soon as the plug II is removed from its rest position to make a connection on the board I0, any dirt which may have fallen beside the plug II and collected in that position will be permitted to fall below the panel I2 into the mechanism lying therebelow.

Applicant has invented an attachment to simultaneously solve both the aforementioned problems in telephone switchboard operation.

In referring to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, applicant's invention comprises a rubber ring I9 formed in a generally doughnut shape, having a central bore 20 with substantially vertical walls. A series of suction cups 2| are integrally formed in the center of the bore 20 of the ring I9. The central bore 20 of the ring I9 is molded so as to have a finished size of a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the portion I6 of the plug I In the use and operation of my invention, the ring I9 is mounted on the portion I6 of the plug II in a position approximately midway of the ends of the portion I6. The suction cups 2| are forced into tight engagement with the surface of the portion I6 to form a secure grip between the ring I9 and the plug I I.

When the operator desires to disconnect the plug II from its connected position, she will use the ring I9 as a handle to grasp the plug II and pull it from its connected position. Even though her grasp be weak and her hands damp, a perfect grip can be made by use of the ring I9 and the tendency to use the cord as a handle will be eliminated.

In the rest position of the plug II, as indicated a seal with the top surface of the panel I2 to prevent any dirt from falling into the panel I2 beside the plug II at any time. When all of the plugs II, having the rings I9 positioned thereon are in rest position, the panel I2 may be dusted by use of a cloth or brush with no possibility of the dirt being dropped through the panel 12 into the mechanism below.

The above described attachment is the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it should be understood that minor changes may be re- 5 sorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telephone.- .switchboard,-.;plug= comprising a contact Ypbrtioh, anf insulatingfipdrtion support- 1o ing said contact portion, and an annular rubber ring having a cylindrical inner surface, mounted:- on said insulating portion, saidrubber ring having suction cups formed on saiki -interiial surfacd thereof to enhance the grip between the.ring,and,-

the insulating portion.

2. A device as claimed in claiiii- 1 in' vvliihthe,- ring is positioned on the plug so as to serve as.a gripping handle for use in removing the pifigrrom connected position, andalso to serve as a dirt 20 saler between theplug and-theswitchboard i1 1' the rest p'osition of the-plug;

'3:"-A- telephone" switchboard plugattachment cemp'rismg arr-annular ringconstfutdbf'rubbr and having-a cylindricalinner surface;- andpro- 25 vided with suction cups on said inner surface to engage and grip the plug, said ring being adapted to serve as a hand grip for handling the plug and as a seal for the switchboard panel.

'- EUGENE E. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 02 thispatents UNIT" sTA'IEsPATENT' France" Dec; 4,19%2" 

